A Quick-Start Primer to Summer Touring

Let’s hit the road! Brad Paisley rocks a rowdy summer festival crowd
at the New York State fair. Photo by Andy Ellis

Here in Nashville, we’re in
the middle of a popular
time of year called “touring season.”
Artists typically stay busiest
during the summer months
when the fairs, festivals, and
amphitheater shows are happening
all over the country. Some
call it the “deep-fried circuit”
or “corn-dog circuit,” where
the dusty stages will make any
open-back amp owner cringe,
catering pushes everyone’s diet
(and cholesterol count) out the
window, and bus drivers yearn
for concrete and shore power
instead of mud and generators.
This all sounds so glamorous,
right? Many country artists cut
their teeth in small-town fairs,
and in the never-ending climb as
players, we’re right there as well.

As your artist gets more
popular, the gigs will change
accordingly. Pretty soon, you’ll
be playing the bigger festivals
and your time slots will move
from daylight hours to night—these are good signs. The catering
steps up and some days
you may even have a dressing
room in which to repose. Better
yet, you won’t have to vacuum
out your rig after the show.
Of course the goal is to get to
the magical headlining spot
everyone has worked so hard to
achieve. It’s a nice place to be.

If you are currently a local
act playing the local crafts fair,
you may be wondering what
the hell this has to do with you.
Trust me—plenty. The only
difference between local and
large-scale shows is money. At
the core, you are still a bunch
of musicians playing the same
songs and doing your thing.
The stage may be a different
size, but you are honing your
craft, and making a dollar or
two in the process. When you
play this summer, there are a
few things you can take away
from the experience besides
indigestion and sunburn.

An inherent trait of musicians
is that we are all gear
junkies. Go on, admit it—I
am. And a favorite pastime
of mine is checking out the
gear the other acts are using.
If you are cool about it, you
can use that stage pass of yours
to walk around and check out
the music store that is right in
front of you. There is no better
way to hear gear than in a
practical setting, so whether it’s
the headliner or first opener,
you may find inspiration for
a new guitar purchase or how
to set up your rig. My touring
rig combines elements I liked
from other players’ setups that
I’ve modified to my needs. I
check out all the gear—guitars,
drums, everything—because if
I hear a tone I like, I want it in
my memory bank in case I need
it later. If you hear something
you need to know more about,
don’t be afraid to ask questions
of another player. Use discretion
of course, and remember that
everyone has bad days, but we
all know most players are happy
to talk gear. So learn all you
can, when you can.

When listening to the
other acts, make sure you walk
around and don’t just stand in
“monitor world.” Because the
guitar amps are usually offstage,
you can hear what’s going on by
walking behind the stage, but
do yourself a favor and check
out the front-of-house too. You
should also try to remove yourself
from the show—meaning,
if you aren’t fond of the artist,
don’t dismiss the players. You
may miss that tone you’ve been
searching for, and you could be
playing for that artist next year.

When we play with other
acts, some days it feels like we
never left home. Since a country
artist will typically tour out
of Nashville with his/her band,
we will more than likely run
into a lot of people we know or
have worked with in the past.
It’s a tight-knit community.
Whether you are new or old to
the scene, getting your name
and information out there is a
good thing. I’m not a “business
card” guy—but you may be,
and that’s fine. Again, discretion
is key. If someone likes your
style or your tone, they will tell
you. And if you are doing your
job well, they may ask for your
information. Even if it doesn’t
result in work right away, you
will probably run into these
folks again—so make a good
impression and be nice.

If you are a supporting act,
there are a few more things to
keep in mind. Remember, it’s
not your gig, so be gracious to
the promoter, the fans, and the
headliner. This goes a long way.
If it’s a “throw and go” show,
take the stage when instructed
and not before. Even if there’s
not much time for changeover,
wait until the other act has
cleared the stage before you
start bringing up your gear. If
you jump the gun, there is the
possibility of an angry stage
manager in your face. And
if you are using an engineer,
remember that he is your new
best friend. The house and/or
monitor engineers can make or
break your show, so talk with
them before the performance,
so they know what to expect.
Respect the fact that the production
crew is the engine that
keeps the train moving.

This summer promises to
be a much better one than
the past couple of years. The
economy is getting better and
festivals are back on track, getting
more music acts into the
fold. That means the trickle-down
effect will ultimately
help you and your band. Did
someone say new gear? Make
the most of your time out there
this summer and promote
yourself, play most of the right
notes, and above all—be nice.
Summertime is hands down
the best time for live music,
for both the musician and fan.
With these simple tips, hopefully
you’ll make this summer
your best one yet.

Steve Cook has been fighting his rockstar
frontman urges for
decades, holding down
the low end for such artists
as Steve Cropper,
Sister Hazel, and Phil
Vassar. Join in his “touring therapy” on
Twitter @shinybass.

Steve Cook started as a touring bass player when printed maps were the only way to get there. His extensive studio and touring credits run the gamut from rock to jazz to country. Also a busy producer and WWII aviation junkie, he welcomes you to reach out via Twitter @shinybass.